Apparatus for and method of making a cigarette package construction or the like



April 1, 1969 3,435,735 AND METHOD OF MAKING A CIGARETTE PACKAGECONSTRUCTION OR THE LIKE W. C. WHITAKER APPARATUS FOR.

Filed uarcn 13, 1967 of3r Sheet FIG-I I I INVENTOR.

2 WILLIAM C. WHITAKER BY W I ms ATTORNEYS April 1, 1969 APPARATUS FORAND'METH OF mum CIGARETTE PACKAGE cousmucnou on THE LIKE Filed larch 13.1967 Sheet 2 of s HIS ATTORNEYS WHITAK I April 1, 1969 w. c. WHITAKER3,435,735

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF MAKING A CIGARETTE PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION ORTHE LIKE Filed March 13'. 1967 Sheet 3 of 3 FIG-6 INVENTOR. WILLIAM C.WHITAKER BY y a? HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 0 3,435,735APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF MAKING A CIGARETTE PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION ORTHE LIKE William C. Whitaker, Richmond, Va., assignor to Reynolds MetalsCompany, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 13, 1967,Ser. No. 622,649 Int. Cl. B31b 1/28, 49/04 US. CI. 93-12 14 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE position during the forming of each package.Each heating means operates together with an associated clamping meansfor each package which is also carried on such indexing device and theheating and clamping means are operated to provide an optimum seal foreach package.

This invention pertains to container means and more particularly to animproved apparatus for and method of making container means from a blankof material or the like.

Container means such as cigarette packages in current use today areoften formed from a flat blank of material comprised of a plurality oflayers such as aluminum-containing foil, or the like, and/or paper andhaving an exposed surface or layer of a plastic material which isheat-scalable. Apparatus and methods have been previously proposed forforming such cigarette packages by heat sealing the overlapping edges ofsuch blank together. The apparatus and methods in current use generallyemploy heating means requiring stopping of a substantially continuousoperation for a sufficient time interval for each package being formedto enable moving such heating means in position, heating and heatsealing the desired areas, and withdrawing such heating means.Inherently the above procedure, although effective, limits the totaloutput of the apparatus while providing packages in which the heatsealed areas are not provided with an optimum bond.

Accordingly, it is a feature of this invention to provide an improvedapparatus for making cigarette packages, or the like, which is of simpleconstruction and capable of providing an improved bond betweenoverlapped heatsealed end portions of a blank used to form suchcigarette packages.

Another feature of this invention is to provide an improved apparatuswhich is of simple and economical construction and readily adaptable tobe used in combination with currently available equipment to increasethe total output of such equipment and yet provide an improved packageconstruction.

Another feature of this invention is to provide an improved method ofmaking cigarette packages, or the like, having improved structuralcharacteristics.

Another feature of this invention is to provide an improved method ofmaking such improved packages by modifying currently used techniques toenable the provision of an improved bond between overlapped heat sealedend portions of each package.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an lmprovedapparatus for and method of making container means from a blank offoldable material having one or more of the novel features of thisinvention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Other objects, uses, and advantages of this invention are apparent froma reading of this description which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating the improved container meansof this invention with a portion thereof broken away.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic end view illustrating an exemplary apparatus ofthis invention used to make cigarette packages.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view with parts broken awayillustrating the principle operating components of the improvedapparatus of this invention and particularly showing heat sealing meanscarried on an indexing wheel comprising the exemplary apparatus of thisinvention and the arrangement of folding means and clamping meansrelative to such heating means.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURES 5-11 are schematic end views illustrating the sequence used toform the improved cigarette package construction of this example of theinvention and particularly illustrating the action and relativepositions of the various moving components.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter illustratedand described as being particularly adaptable for forming containermeans such as a package for cigarettes, or the like, it is to beunderstood that the various features of this invention can be utilizedsingly or in any combination thereof to provide container means forother uses as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized toillustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

An improved exemplary container means or cigarette package 20 of thisinvention is illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. Package 20 isformed from a generally rectangular blank 21 preferably having a layerof aluminum-containing metallic foil 22 defining its outside surface andan inside surface made of a plastic material which is a heat-scalablematerial and indicated by the numeral 23. Blank 21 is suitably folded sothat opposed end portions thereof indicated by the numerals 24 and 25are placed in overlapping relation. The overlapped end portions 24 and25 are heat sealed together using the improved apparatus and method ofthis invention to provide an improved bond therebetween, as will bedescribed in detail subsequently, to initially form a tubular structurehaving open ends. After inserting cigarettes within such open endstructure, using conventional equipment, such open ends are foldedclosed and sealed in a known manner to define end walls each designatedby the numeral 26 and shown in the drawings as the top and bottom wallof the improved package 20 of this example. The improved apparatus andmethod of this invention enable the provision of cigarette packages in amore rapid and eflicient manner than is currently possible usingexisting equipment and methods.

Blank 21 may be made of any suitable foldable material having an exposedsurface or layer made of a plastic heat-scalable material. In thisexample of the invention plastic layer 23 forms the inside surface ofthe improved package 20. Blank 21 may have any number of layers usingmaterials such as metallic foil, paper, plastic, and the like providedone outside surface or layer of blank 21 is made of a heat-scalablematerial. It will be appreciated that the use of heat-sealable plasticmaterial not only makes possible the improved package construction ofthis invention but also provides a substantially moisture-proof barrierassuring the cigarettes within package maintain their freshness.

The exemplary apparatus of this invention is designated generally by thenumeral 28 in the drawings, see FIG- URE 2, and comprises an indexingdevice such as a wheellike structure or wheel designated generally bythe numera1 30 which is rotatable about an axis shown at 31 whichextends normal to the plane of the drawings. Wheel 30', in this example,has a plurality of twelve stations arranged about its periphery in aclock-like manner and means is provided to enable forming of a separatecigarette package 20 at each station.

An arbor 32 of generally rectangular cross-sectional outline and havingthe general overall shape of a parallelepiped is fixed in position ateach station about the periphery of wheel 30, and a movable U-shapedfolding device 33 is supported on wheel 30 at each station for rotationtherewith while being adapted to move toward and away from an associatedarbor 32. The dimensional configuration of each U-shaped folding device33 is closely controlled and corresponds to an arbor 32 associatedtherewith and the thickness of an associated blank 21 to enable formingsuch blank thereabout as will be described in detail later.

Wheel 30 is suitably rotated about its axis 31 in a clock-wise manner inindexing steps and at a position which will be referred to as the threeoclock station a substantially rectangular blank 21 is inserted betweena coperating arbor 32 and folding device 33, see FIGURE 2. Eachrectangular arbor 32 has four walls or sides designated respectively bythe numerals 34, 35, 36, and 37 about which blank 21 is folded to definea tubular structure having open ends. As shown in FIGURE 3 of thedrawings, side 37 is illustrated as the top side or top wall of arbor32.

Blank 21 is inserted between arbor 32 and folding device 33 at the threeoclock station so that it extends radially inwardly toward the center ofwheel structure 31 a predetermined amount and positioned so as to definethe location along top wall 37 that end portions 24 and 25 of blank 21will be brought in overlapping relation. Having thus inserted blank 21in position, the folding device 33 is moved or urged toward fixed arbor32 thereby folding blank 21 therebetween around three sides 34, 35, and36 of rectangular arbor 32.

The terminal end portions 24 and 25 of blank 21 are then folded inoverlapping relation at the four oclock position using suitable foldingmeans supported independently of indexing wheel 30. Clamping means andheat sealing means caried by rotatable wheel are then moved intoengagement with overlapped end portions 24 and 25 and operated in acontrolled manner to provide an improved heat seal between suchoverlapped portions.

Arbor 32 and folding device 33 are maintained in their urged togetherposition until Wheel 30 is indexed to what is illustrated as the twelveoclock position in the drawings, at which position the completed package20 with cigarettes sealed therein is ejected. The clamping means whichholds end portions 24 and 25 of each package 20 clamped together is alsoheld clamped from the four oclock position to the twelve oclock positionto allow heat sealed end portions to cool While being held firmlyclamped together.

Exemplary apparatus 28 of this invention includes means for folding theremainder, i. e. terminal opposite end portions, of blank 21 notpreviously simultaneously folded around walls 35-36 against top side orfourth side 37 of arbor 32. The folding action takes place at the fouroclock position and will be understood readily by first 4 referring toFIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings showing the principal components inenlarged view and then referring to the sequential operating stepstaking place at the four oclock position and illustrated in FIGURES 5through 9.

As U-shaped folding device 33 engages blank 21 and folds it around sides34, 35, and 36 of arbor 32, end portion 24 projects above top edge ofside 34 and hence above top 37 of arbor 32. In a similar manner the endportion of blank 21 having portion 25 adjoining its terminal edgeextends beyond the top edge of wall 36 a sufiicient amount to overlapend portion 24 adjacent the corner defined by sides 34 and 37 once blank21 is finally folded in position about arbor 32.

With folding device 33 in its fully extended or actuated position,folding means provided to fold and initially hold the terminal endportions of blank 21 in overlapped relation against top side 37 of arbor32 are actuated. Such folding means comprises a first device shown as anelongated folding bar 40 having a surface 41 which is arranged tocooperate with wall 34 and a surface 42 arranged at right angles theretoand adapted to cooperate with top wall 37 of arbor 32. As seen inFIGURES 6 and 7 of the drawings, folding bar 40 engages blank 21, at thefour oclock position, and positions end portion 24 against top side 37of arbor 32.

Simultaneously with the folding of end portion 24 in position, action iscommenced to fold and hold the remainder of blank 21 and particularlyend portion 25 thereagainst in overlapping relation. The folding andholding action for the remainder of blank 21 is accomplished by use of asecond device indicated generally by the numeral at 44, see FIGURES 3and 4.

Device 44 has a holding member of arm 45 which in this example of theinvention is formed as an elongated rectangular strip or bar whichextends substantially across the full width of blank 21. Holding arm 45is moved into engagement with and away from blank 21 in a manner as willbe described in detail subsequently.

Folding arm 45 engages the portion of blank 21 adjoining end portion 25and holds it in position overlapped on top of end portion 24. Arm 45 isheld in this position for a fraction of a second allowing sufiicienttime for end portions 24 and 25 to be engaged by an associated heatingmeans and clamping means designated generally by the respective numerals46 and 47.

Each heating or heat sealing means 46 of this improved apparatus heats apredetermined area of end portions 24 and 25 and is held in its heatingposition after a particular associated package 20 which is being formedis indexed beyond the four oclock folding station to assure theprovision of an improved bond between end portions 24 and 25. Heatingdevice 46 and clamping device 47 are moved into heating and clampingposition respectively in a substantially simultaneous manner. However,in this exemplary illustration, heating device 46 is removed at the sixoclock station while device 47 is held in clamping engagement until thetwelve oclock station when the completely formed, filled, and sealedpackage is ejected.

As previously mentioned, folding and holding device 44 has a folding andholding arm 45 which accomplishes its entire function at the four oclockstation. The detailed presentation will now proceed with a descriptionof the remainder of the operating components comprising device 44.

Device 44 comprises a lever-like structure or assembly 52 which ispivoted about a fixed axis defined by a pin 53 supported generallyoutside the periphery of wheel 30. Structure 52 has an upper portionextending in one direction from pivot pin 53 which includes a pair ofsubstantially parallel members each designated by the numeral 54.Folding and holding arm 45 is suitably fastened to and extends betweenthe terminal outer ends of members 54 and is adapted to engage blank 21adjacent end portion 25.

Structure 52 has a lower portion extending in the opposite directionfrom pin 53 and such lower portion includes another pair ofsubstantially parallel members each designated by the numeral 55 and atransverse bar 56 which is fastened between the terminal end portions ofmembers 55. Bar 56 has an arcuate surface 57 which is engaged by arotatable cam 61 to move members 54 toward and away from wheel 30 andthereby move folding and holding arm 45 into and out of engagement withblank 21.

Cam 61 is supported on a rotatable shaft 62 and is keyed thereto using akey 63. Shaft 62 is supported for rotation on a mount 64 therefor and isrotated in any suitable manner preferably using an electric motor, orthe like.

Arm 45 is moved into folding and holding engagement against blank 21adjacent end portion 25 using any suitable moving means and in thisexample of the invention the previously described cam 61 is usedcooperating with spring means or a pair of springs 65. The action ofsprings 65 and cam 61 will be better understood by referringparticularly to FIGURES 3 and 4 and the detailed description will nowproceed referring only to one spring it being understood the descriptionis fully applicable to both springs 65.

Spring 65 is constructed and arranged to cooperate with cam 61 to applya holding force of substantially constant magnitude. Spring 65 has acoiled portion 65A at its base which assures a substantially constantforce being exerted at its outer end as such spring is flexed. Innercoiled portion 65A of spring 65 is fixed to a support 66 comprising theupper end portion of mount 64 While the outer portion 5B of each springexerts a force against an associated member 54 to thereby exert theabove mentioned force of constant magnitude against holding arm 45.However, it will be seen from the drawings that cam 61 engages arcuatesurface 57 of bar 56 to assure that blank 21 is engaged by arm 45 onlyduring the folding and holding procedureat the four oclock station.

The action of cam 61 and arm 45 will be readily understood by referringto FIGURES 5-9. Cam 61 has an outer configuration indicated generally bythe numeral 67 and such configuration is such that it engages arcuatesurface 57 of bar 56 to pivot lever assembly 52 about pin 53. Thispivoting action moves arm 45 toward and away from blank 21 at the fouroclock position. It is seen, therefore, that cam 61 overrides constantforce springs 65 at all times except during the folding and holdinginterval when such springs are allowed to exert their controlled force.

The holding arm 45 is assured of being in constant force engagement withblank 21 because cam surface 67 has a constant radius arc portion 67Awhich holds such arm in position as desired during the time intervalthat end portion 25 of blank 21 is folded and held against portion 24.Basically then, it is merely necessary to rotate shaft 62 in timedsequence with movement of wheel 30 into and out of the four oclockposition to achieve the desired folding and holding action by arm 45.Also, shaft 62 is rotated in cooperation with the action of the otherfolding components and heat sealing members actuated into position atthe four oclock position.

Arm 45 is held in engagement with blank 21 for a suflicient time toenable heating means 46 and clamping means 47 to be moved into positionas previously mentioned. The description will now proceed with adetailed description of first heating device or means 46 and thenclamping device or means 47 and the operation of each. The descriptionwill be made of only one heating device 46 and clamping device 47 andassociated members; however, it will be appreciated that apparatus 28has a plurality of cooperating sets of such devices. Thus, as seen inFIG- URE l a heating device 46 and a clamping device 47 is provided "ateach of the twelve positions on wheel 30. Only a few representative onesof devices 46 and 47 have been designated by their appropriate referencenumerals in FIGURE 2.

Each heating means 46 preferably comprises a heater bar 80 having aheated terminal outer surface 81 which is adapted to be moved intoengagement with end portion 25 of an associated blank 21 to heat sealportions 24 and 2.5 together by heating a predetermined area thereofcorresponding to heated surface 81. Heating means 46 is heated in anysuitable known manner. For example, electrical heating elements may besuitably embedded within bar adjacent surface 81 and provided withsuitable control means to control the temperature of heated surface 81.

First actuating means shown as a separate actuator 83 for each heatingmeans 46 is provided for moving each associated heater bar 80 toward andaway from arbor 32. Actuator 83 has a telescoping rod end 84 which issuitably attached to bar 80. A bracket 85 supports actuator 83 to wheel30 in a fixed manner.

Clamping means 47 of this example is preferably in the form of anelongated bar which extends the full length of package 20 to assure endportions 24 and 25 are firmly held together across such full length.Clamping bar 47 is actuated into clamping position by second actuatingmeans shown as an actuator 86 having a telescoping rod 87 extendingtherefrom. Clamping bar 47 is fixed to the terminal end of rod 87 in anysuitable manner and actuator 86 is suitably supported on wheel structure30 by a bracket assembly 90 in a fixed manner.

Thus, it is seen that actuators 83 and 86 for heating means 46 andclamping bar 47 respectively are mounted on a common structure which inthis case is wheel 30 and such actuators are also actuated independentlyyet in a cooperating manner.

Each U-shaped folding device 33 in this example of the invention isextended into folding position by associated actuating means or anactuator 92 having a telescoping rod end 93 which is suitably attachedto folding device 33. A bracket 94 supports actuator 92 to wheel 30 in afixed manner. Each arbor 32 is, of course, fixed about the periphery ofwheel 30 at spaced apart intervals as previously mentioned. After eachblank 21 is inserted between a cooperating arbor 32 and U-shaped device33 at the three oclock position, an associated actuator 92 is actuatedand such blank is folded around the three sides 3436 of arbor 32 as seenin FIGURE 5.

Folding bar 40 used to fold end portion 24 in position is also providedat the four oclock position and operated in predetermined timed sequencewith folding arm 45. Bar 40 is extended by an actuator 96 having atelescoping rod end 97 which is suitably fastened to bar 40. Actuator 96is supported independently of wheel 30.

Thus, as each package construction 20 is indexed to the four oclockposition, actuator 96 is actuated to fold end portion 24 in positionaganist top surface 37 of arbor 32, see FIGURE 6. With end portion 24positioned against top surface 37, end portion 25 is placed inoverlapping relation thereagainst by arm 45 of folding and holdingdevice 44, as seen in FIGURE 7.

With such end portions thus folded the preferred heat sealing actionwhich was previously mentioned, is to actuate actuators 83 and 86separately yet in a simultaneous manner to move associated bars 80 and47 into simultaneous engagement with overlapped end portions 24 and 25of blank 21 while arm 45 is still held in position, see FIGURE 8. Arm 45is then withdrawn as seen in FIGURE 9 and bars 80 and 47 remain clampedin position enabling heater bar 80 to heat seal portions 24 and 25together. Bar 80 is withdrawn at station six as previously mentionedwhile bar 47 remains clamped allowing end portions 24 and 25 to coolwhile being firmly clamped.

Three components associated with the folding and heat sealing of blank21 are carried on wheel 30, namely, folding device 33, clamping bar 47,and heating means 46. The remainder of the folding structure comprisingthe folding bar 40 and device 44 are supported independently of wheelstructure 30 adjacent the four oclock position.

As will be apparent from FIGURE 3 of the drawings,

clamping bar 47 preferably has a resilient end portion or tip designatedby the numeral 100. Resilient tip 100 is eformable and will conform withthe adjoining outside surface of arbor 32, for example, its top surface37. It will be appreciated that through wear and in the process ofrepetitive manufacture of cigarette packages that top surface 37 ofarbor 32 beneath heater bar 80 may become slightly warped, or slightlydeformed. By providing a resilient portion 100 on clamping bar 47 theterminal end portions 24 and are held in more positive overlappingrelation to thereby provide an improved bond therebetween.

As seen in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, as container means or package 20with its heat-sealed end portions moves away from the four oclockposition clamping bar 47 is held firmly in position against overlappedend portions 24 and 25. As previously mentioned, the clamping action ismaintained until the twelve oclock position is reached to assure anoptimum bond between heat sealed end portions 24 and 25 and thecompleted package 20 is ejected at such twelve oclock position.

Heating means 46 is mounted on wheel so that its heater bar 80 is keptspaced apart from clamping bar 47 to assure minimum heat transfer fromheater bar 80 to clamping bar 47, see FIGURE 3. It will be appreciatedthat separate heating and clamping units are required because of therapid manner in which apparatus 28 forms package 20. It is commonpractice in a machine of this type to run 120 packages a minute. Itwould be practically impossible to use a single device both as a heatingand cooling-clamping unit because such single device would not lose heatfast enough during the time interval between one heat sealing operationand the next to enable the heat sealed portions to cool properly. Theprovision of separate heating and clamping devices which are keptsubstantially thermally isolated (by an air space) makes operation ofthe machine much more efficient while providing each package 20 with animproved bond between its overlapped end portions.

The mounting of heating means 46 on rotating wheel 30, in effect, makesit possible to speed up the operation of apparatus 28. In fact, it hasbeen possible through the use of the improved apparatus and method ofthis invention to completely package generally of the order of 180packages per minute.

In known apparatus of this type the heat sealing of overlapped endportions of a blank used to make a package similar to package 20generally is achieved at a single fixed position with rotary wheel 30stopped. The heat sealing must be rapidly achieved and generally themore rapid the heat sealing the greater the chances are of providing apoor bond. Efforts were previously made to provide a larger heat sealedarea and provide more intense heat to compensate for the short heatsealing time.

The present invention avoids these previous problems because the heatingmeans 46 is carried on indexing wheel 30. Thus, heater bar 80 of heatingmeans 46 is applied upon stopping Wheel 30 to accomplish the foldingaction; however, this folding is accomplished comparatively rapidly.Heater bar 80 may then be held actuated as long as desired to provide anoptimum heat seal between overlapped end portions 24 and 25 of eachpackage.

In this example of the invention heater bar 80 of heating means 46 isshown as being withdrawn from heating engagement at the six oclockposition. However, it will be appreciated that such heater may be keptin heating engagement as long as desired even beyond the six oclockposition.

To help provide more effective cooling of the heatsealed end portions,clamping bar 47 may employ means for circulating cooling fluid, such ascooling air, or the like, to carry away the heat. However, the surfacearea of clamping bar 47 is generally sufficient to transfer enough heatto the surrounding air as wheel 30 moves to the twelve oclock position.Also, it may be desirable in 8 some applications to provide extendedheat transfer surfaces as an integral part of bar 47 to provide evenbetter cooling without the provision of a separate cooling fiuid.

The various actuators 83, 86, 92, and 96 may be of any suitable typesuch as mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, or any suitablecombination thereof to accomplish the actuating function. The sequenceof actuation of such actuators and of cam 61 is achieved in a controlledmanner as determined by the operating cycle of apparatus 28 so that eachrespective actuator moves its associated component into position at theproper time in the cycle.

Most of the various actuators of this disclosure have been shown ascylindrical and having telescoping rod ends. However, it is to beunderstood that such actuators may be of any suitable shape or size anddriven by any suitable power source.

Terms such as top, bottom, side, certain references to clock positions,and the like, have been used in this disclosure for ease of descriptionand are not to be considered as limiting the scope of this invention inany way.

Thus, it is seen that an improved apparatus and method have beenprovided for economically producing improved heat sealed container meanshaving an optimum bond between overlapped heat sealed end portions ofsuch container means while providing such container means at a higherproduction rate than is presently possible using similar machines.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed asrequired by statute, other forms may be used, all coming within thescope of the claimed subject matter which follows.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for forming container means from a blank comprising, arotatable indexing device, folding means for folding and holdingopposite end portions of said blank in overlapped relation, said foldingmeans comprising first and second devices for folding and holding saidend portions in position for a limited time interval, clamping means forengaging and clamping together said end portions during said timeinterval prior to withdrawal of said second device, said clamping meansbeing supported on said indexing device for movement therewith, heatingmeans for heat sealing said overlapped end portions together by heatinga predetermined area thereof, said heating means being supported on saidrotatable indexing device for movement therewith, and first actuatingmeans operatively connected to said heating means, said first actuatingmeans being supported on said indexing device and being constructed andarranged to enable moving said heating means into a heating positionsubstantially simultaneously with said clamping means, then holding saidheating means in said heating position during movement of said indexingdevice and for a sufiicient time period to assure heat sealing, and thenwithdrawing said heating means prior to withdrawal of said clampingmeans, said substantially simultaneous clamping by said clamping meansand heat sealing by said heating means for said suflicient time enablingthe provision of said con tainer means having an improved heat seal yetwithout interrupting the overall operating performance of saidapparatus.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which, said heating means andclamping means are supported on said rotatable indexing device in spacedapart relation to avoid heat transfer from said heating means to saidclamping means, said heating means has heated contacting means definingsaid predetermined area, and said heated contacting means is moved intosaid heating position by said first actuating means by being broughtinto contact with one of said end portions.

3. An apparatus for forming container means from a blank comprising, arotatable indexing device, folding means for folding and holdingopposite end portions of said blank in overlapped relation, said foldingmeans comprising first and second devices for folding and holding saidend portions in position for a limited time interval, clamping means forengaging and clamping together said end poritions during said timeinterval prior to withdrawal of said second device, said clamping meansbeing supported on said indexing device for movement therewith, heatingmeans for heat sealing said overlapped end portions together by heatinga predetermined area thereof, first actuating means operativelyconnected to said heating means, and second actuating means supported onsaid indexing device and operatively connected to said clamping meansfor actuating said clamping means independently of said heating means,said first actuating means being supported on said indexing device andbeing constructed and arranged to enable moving said heating means intoa heating position substantially simultaneously with said clampingmeans, then holding said heating means in said heating position asufficient time period to assure heat sealing, and then withdrawing saidheating means prior to withdrawal of said clamping means, saidsubstantially simultaneous clamping by said clamping means and heatsealing by said heating means for said sufiicient time enabling theprovision of said container means having an improved heat seal yetwithout interrupting the overall operating performance of saidapparatus.

4. An apparatus for forming container means from a blank comprising, arotatable indexing device, folding means for folding and holdingopposite end portions of said blank in overlapped relation, said foldingmeans comprising first and second devices for folding and holding saidend portions in position for a limited time interval, clamping means forengaging and clamping together said end portions during said timeinterval prior to withdrawal of said second device, said clamping meansbeing supported on said indexing device for movement therewith, heatingmeans for heat sealing said overlapped end portions together by heatinga predetermined area thereof, first actuating means operativelyconnected to said heating means, said first actuating means beingsupported on said indexing device and being constructed and arranged toenable moving said heating means into a heating position substantiallysimultaneously with said clamping means, then holding said heating meansin said heating position a suificient time period to assure heatsealing, and then withdrawing said heating means prior to withdrawal ofsaid clamping means, said substantially simultaneous clamping by saidclamping means and heat sealing by said heating means for saidsufficient time enabling the provision of said container means having animproved heat seal yet without interrupting the overall operatingperformance of said apparatus, and said apparatus further comprising,arbor means fixed on said indexing device and having a generallyrectangular crosssectional outline and four supporting surface means,said folding means further comprises an elongated roughly U-shapeddevice supported on said indexing device and which is movable relativeto said arbor means and cooperates therewith to simultaneously fold saidblank around three of said four supporting surface means, said first andsecond devices being supported independently of said indexing device andarranged to enable folding and holding said opposite end portions inoverlapped relation against the fourth of said supporting surface means,said heating means and clamping means are supported on said indexingdevice in spaced apart relation to avoid heat transfer from said heatingmeans to said clamping means, and said heating means has heatedcontacting means defining said predetermined area and is moved into saidheating position by said first actuating means by being brought intocontact with one of said overlapped end portions, whereby said firstactuating means holds said heated contacting means against saidoverlapped end portions through subsequent indexing movement of saidindexing device for said sufficient time to assure an adequate heat sealand said clamping means fidmly urges and holds said end portionstogether and against said fourth supporting surface means throughsubsequent indexing of said indexing device after withdrawal of saidheating means to thereby allow adequate cooling time to provide animproved bond between said end portions.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which said heating meanscomprises a heater bar having heated terminal outer surface meansdefining said heated contacting means.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said clamping means hasresilient clamping surface means which compensates for any imperfectionof said fourth supporting surface means to assure firm clamping actionover said entire area.

7. A method of forming container means from a blank comprising the stepsof, providing a rotatable indexing device, providing folding meanscomprising providing first and second devices, folding said blank inposition including folding and holding opposite end portions of saidblank in overlapped relation for a limited time interval with said firstand second devices, providing clamping means supported on said indexingdevice, engaging and clamping together said end portions with saidclamping means during said time interval to enable withdrawal of saidfirst and second devices, providing first actuating means supported onsaid indexing device, providing heating means operatively connected tosaid first actuating means, heat sealing a predetermined area of saidoverlapped end portions together by moving said heating means intoheating position with said first actuating means substantiallysimultaneously with engaging said end portions with said clamping means,holding said heating means in said heating position a sufficient timeperiod to assure heat sealing, withdrawing said heating means with saidfirst actuating means while keeping said clamping means clamped inposition to allow adequate cooling of said heat sealed area with saidend portions clamped together, and then withdrawing said clamping means,whereby said substantially simultaneous clamping by said clamping meansand heat sealing by said heating means for said sufiicient time enablesthe provision of said container means having an improved heat seal yetwithout interrupting the forming speed of said apparatus.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7 in which said heating means andclamping means are supported on said indexing device in spaced apartrelation to avoid heat transfer from said heating means to said clampingmeans, and comprising the further steps of providing said heating meanswith heated contacting means defining said predetermined area, saidheated contacting means being brought into said heating position by saidfirst actuating means during said heat sealing step and into contactwith one of said end portions.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8 in which said step of providingheating means with heated contacting means comprises providing a heaterbar having heated outer surface means defining said heated contactingmeans.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9 comprising the further steps ofproviding second actuating means supported on said indexing device,operatively connecting said second actuating means to said clampingmeans, and actuating said clamping means with said second actuatingmeans independently of said heating means.

11. The method as set forth in claim 7 comprising the further steps ofproviding arbor means having support surface means and fixing said arbormeans on said indexing device, said step of providing folding meanscomprises providing a third device supported on said indexing device,and said folding step further comprises folding said blank around saidarbor means first with said third device and then with said first andsecond devices to place said end portions in overlapped relation againstsaid support surface means, whereby upon folding said opposite endportions against said support surface means during said folding step andclamping said clamping means thereagainst during said clamping stepsubstantially simultaneously with moving said heating means into saidheating position during said heat sealing step said support surfacemeans provides a stable clamping surface during said heat sealing ofsaid end portions to assure an improved bond therebetween.

12. The method as set forth in claim 7 comprising the further steps of,providing arbor means having a generally rectangular sectional outlineand having four supporting surface means and fixing said arbor means onsaid indexing device, said step of providing folding means furthercomprises providing an elongated roughly U- shaped device supported onsaid indexing device and which is movable relative to said arbor means,said folding step comprises folding said blank around three of said foursupporting surface means with said U-shaped device, said first andsecond devices being supported independently of said indexing device andsaid first and second devices folding and holding said opposite endportions in overlapped relation against said fourth surface means duringsaid folding step, said heating and clamping means being mounted on saidindexing device for movement therewith and in spaced apart relation toavoid heat transfer from said heating means to said clamping means, andsaid heating means having heated contacting means defining saidpredetermined area and being moved into said heating position duringsaid heat sealing step by said first actuating means by being broughtinto contact with one of said overlapped end portions, whereby uponfolding and holding said end portions against said fourth supportingsurface means during said folding step said first actuating means movesand holds said heated contacting means against said end portions for anumber of subsequent indexing movements and for said sufficient time toassure an adequate heat seal and said clamping means firmly urges saidend portions together and against said fourth supporting surface meansand holds said end portions together through subsequent indexing of saidindexing device after withdrawal of said heating means to thereby allowadequate cooling time to provide an improved bond between said endportions.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12 comprising the further steps ofproviding second actuating means supported on said indexing device,operatively connecting said second actuating means to said clampingmeans, and actuating said clamping means with said second actuatingmeans independently of said heating means.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13 in which said step of providingheating means with heated contacting means comprises providing a heaterbar having heated outer surface means, and said step of providingclamping means comprises providing clamping means having resilientclamping surface means which compensates for any imperfection of saidfourth supporting surface means to assure firm clamping action over saidentire area.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,971,442 2/1961 Engleson 93-123,311,034 3/1967 Whitaker 93--44.1 3,385,176 5/1968 Whitaker 9312 WAYNEA. MORSE, Jr., Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

